So tell me mumsnet - does where you live fit the bill?

[longcoffeebreak]

I have had this feeling for a while I want to start again somewhere new?

I dream of hilly trail running from (very near) my house with my dogs in a friendly town somewhere. But also being within 30 or so mins of a decent size city for arts/independent film/fun things to see and do. Low crime rate and beautiful. But not constantly raining!!

I'm 50, had a crap couple of years. Terminal illness in a family member, LTR break-up, working 3 jobs to pay the mortgage the biggest earning one of which I find terribly stressful. Single parent one child has SEN. Live in a small place which is beautiful but I'm on the sofa every evening on my own - totally bored and quite frankly a bit lonely. I feel unfulfilled.

On one level maybe I should just accept my lot and get on with it. I live in a nice, safe, clean location, it's just very expensive and socially isolated and lacks other job opportunities and stimulation.

I feel so trapped it has stuck me that I need to remember i do have choices. Both kids coming to end of education in next year and I have equity in my house.

So tell me mumsnet - does/could where you live fit the bill?

Well yes, actually. Or near it. Derbyshire has some lovely little arty towns and communities in the Derbyshire Dales. We live near Nottingham, which is a proper fun city and if you're on the right side of it, a short drive up to proper Derbyshire climbing country.

Scottish borders - beautiful, and sandwiched between Edinburgh and Newcastle.

How exciting OP
I saw one person say they were going to try a few a few locations of Airbnb to help them.decide where to move to? Is this something you coukld do?

Wirral. Beaches, woodlands, very close for n.wales but merseyrail takes you into Liverpool or Chester very easily and quickly.

Many many places like that here, yes.

but I’m fairly certain we’re not in the same country. And living here is rather expensive…

however: I think you should go for it! Find a nice place in a location you like and enjoy (and could see yourself being old as well)! Life is too short to feel trappend and stuck. Good luck :-)

Yorkshire dales but so many people got in first…

Another vote for Malvern

Wotton under Edge, but maybe a bit rainy

Shrewsbury lovely town, independent shops and food. Excellent indoor market. Theatre and cinema. Close to Birmingham and Manchester, Chester and Liverpool.
Shropshire Hills 15 mins for walks and hill running. Come and run the Longmynd Hike 50 miles weekend in October (or not) 😀

Don't go to Lancashire if you want to avoid rain. The rain is the reason Lancashire had cotton mills and Yorkshire had woolen mills.

Or how about Northumberland?

Beautiful, but windy and cold! When I went to Northumberland on holiday, I was relieved to get back home to the relative balmy warmth... of Cumbria!

Shrewsbury is a good shout by a PP. Lovely town, lovely country, good location.

I'd move there 😁

Yes, and no.

Yes: it is a decent sized house for our household on a friendly street (not daily coffee mornings but occasional social gatherings and a good WhatsApp group if anyone ever needs anything). We are on a main bus route to the city centre once you leave the estate. We are 15 minutes walk from commuter train to city centre. Roughly an hour commute to work in city centre (exact timing depends on various factors but possible by a few bus routes, train, car or bicycle).
Good services locally - walkable primary and secondary schools, range of churches, shops, coffee shops and takeaways, library, post office and banks etc. Short drive to dry cleaners, green grocer, fishmonger, butcher, bakery, hardware stores, nice restaurants. And decent town 20 minutes walk or short drive with almost everything you need. Good local walks in big park or along shore. Good clubs for kids and adults alike in a wide range of sporting and other activities. Local theatre and cinema, and some churches hold relatively regular musical events.

No: far away from family. In suburbia so no open fields. Small garden and far from allotments (had for 5 years but too far to make it work long term) so limited potential to grow own veggies and fruit. No space for decent shed or workshop or greenhouse or wood store. Always surrounded by people.

Sorry - I read the title not the OP. Ignore me.

Blairgowrie? Close enough to glenshee to go skiing in winter, close enough to Dundee for culture.

Was going to say we have lovely hills with places like Rivington but the rain...

One year most of the country was under snow. My area of Lancashire? Rain. Not a snowflake in sight

Abergavenny- I’d say it ticks all of your boxes!

Chiltern Hills - sounds like it ticks all the boxes.